The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will build a special data window for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to get timely information about cyclones, coral-reef monitoring, coast-line monitoring through satellite, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Glasgow on Tuesday. Speaking at the launch event of the IRIS initiative at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26), Modi said: "India's space agency ISRO will build a special data window for SIDS. With this, SIDS will continue to get timely information about cyclones, coral-reef monitoring and coast-line monitoring through satellite."

"Guessing the threat of climate change on Small Island Developing States, India made special arrangements for cooperation with Pacific Islands and CARICOM countries. We trained their citizens in solar technologies, made continuous contributions for development," Modi was quoted by Indian news agencies as saying.

He said that the past few decades have proven that nobody remains untouched by the effects of climate change. Be it developed nations or nations that are rich in natural resources, climate change has a huge threat.  "Small Island Developing States are most threatened with climate change. For them, it is a matter of life and death, a challenge to their existence. Calamities due to climate change can become devastating for them. It is not only a challenge for their lives but also for their economy," he added.

The Infrastructure for the Resilient Island State (IRIS) is an initiative to boost the infrastructure in small island countries. SIDS are a group of developing countries that are small island countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, and India has been making a special pitch towards them. 

India will always strengthen any effort for sustainable development, Modi said at another event after Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission described India as a key partner in combating climate change.

On Monday, Modi announced what has been described as a bold pledge that India will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and asserted that it is the only country that is delivering in "letter and spirit" the commitments on tackling climate change under the Paris Agreement. He said India is working hard in fighting climate change and it will show results.

Modi also said that India is putting climate change at the centre of its policies and stressed the need to include climate adaptation policies in the school syllabus to make the next generation aware of the issues.(SAM)